Convicted State Senator Faces Expulsion From Lansing Chamber

The state Senate could expel Senator Virgil Smith if he does not resign.

Smith was sentenced Monday to ten months in jail and five years probation for assaulting his ex-wife and shooting her car. The judge in the case said he could not force Smith to resign from office - even though Smith agreed to step down as part of his plea agreement. Amber McCann is a spokesperson for state Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof. She says they still expect Smith to resign.

“If the senator does change his mind - if he is serving an extended period of time in jail, it would make it very difficult for him to also serve his constituents – and, so, I think we would have to at that point consider expulsion.”

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Quote from Amber McCann, spokesperson for state Senator Arlan Meekhof

McCann says it’s too early to say when or how the Senate would proceed with expulsion hearings if they choose to take that route.